No overall winners in battle for power at Poole Council (From Bournemouth Echo)
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No overall winners in battle for power at Poole Council
10:00am Sunday 23rd December 2012 in News By Diana Henderson
AUTHORITY: The council offices
POOLE Council is to remain hung with the Conservative group continuing to form a minority administration.
This follows two days of talks and a motion of confidence in Borough of Poole leader, Cllr Elaine Atkinson, proposed by two members of her own party, which was withdrawn at a full meeting of the council.
Following the decision of Parkstone ward member Cllr Sally Carpenter, to walk across the floor from the Conservative group to join Poole People, the council has 20 Conservatives, 18 Liberal Democrats and 4 Poole People members.
Cllr Atkinson, who continues as leader, said: “The council has operated successfully with no overall control for the last 18 months. Following talks with the other political groups I am pleased that we have been able to reach an agreement which will enable us to move forward at a time of significant financial challenge for the council.”
She said: “We will work together with members of the other political groups for the benefit of the people of Poole.”
Cllr Mike Brooke, leader of the Liberal Democrat group said they would be continuing with their opposition role. “There is no coalition in Poole,” he said.
“There are issues and policies that we can agree on and we can take these forward without any problem at all. Equally there are issues we will need to debate and if at the end of the day we can’t agree on a way forward we will have to see what the balances are as a result of that disagreement.”
John McBride, chief executive said the council’s budget was the main concern, and they were currently £1.3million short of balancing the books. Unprecedentedly the last budget was agreed unanimously.
“We have already discussed how we get as much agreement as possible on the areas that really matter to Poole,” he said.
Poole People leader Cllr Mark Howell said: “”We will try to campaign for a consensus approach to government in Poole and true to persuade both parties that’s the way forward and to have a mixed administration.
“We still say the current administration isn’t showing the vision that’s necessary to take Poole through these times,” he said.
Comments(14)
bourne free
says...
11:05am Sun 23 Dec 12
pete woodley wrote:That all sounds very cosy , more like the council christmas party ?
Pathetic the lot of them,when councillors get in on a party ticket,and then change sides,how can they be trusted.Mark Howell has such a big opinion of himself,despite a lack of knowledge and experience.
l'anglais
says...
11:14am Sun 23 Dec 12
pete woodley wrote:I think it's known as power for power's sake.
Pathetic the lot of them,when councillors get in on a party ticket,and then change sides,how can they be trusted.Mark Howell has such a big opinion of himself,despite a lack of knowledge and experience.
And they called the Politburo undemocratic.
Jetwasher
says...
11:28am Sun 23 Dec 12
boyerboy
says...
12:18pm Sun 23 Dec 12
.........
pete woodley
says...
12:29pm Sun 23 Dec 12
boyerboy wrote:And getting well paid for playing.
Oh come on, they are playing nicely..............
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muscliffman
says...
1:01pm Sun 23 Dec 12
The rules should be changed to compel an election when any politician (local or national) changes sides after obtaining power - effectively by public deception.
But how many just keep quiet about their true beliefs in order to retain a seat on the oversized gravy train?
New rules, new single 'City', much smaller gravy train - we are waiting.
Tripod
says...
1:38pm Sun 23 Dec 12
MJD
says...
5:31pm Sun 23 Dec 12
portia6
says...
5:32pm Sun 23 Dec 12
pete woodley
says...
5:48pm Sun 23 Dec 12
crystallady
says...
8:44pm Sun 23 Dec 12
paul.p
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12:17pm Mon 24 Dec 12
Hobad1
says...
8:56pm Mon 24 Dec 12
pete woodley says...
10:38am Sun 23 Dec 12